Tubular silver mezuzah saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
- Date
-
use:
before 1942
- Geography
-
use:
Amsterdam (Netherlands)
use: Baarn (Netherlands)
- Language
-
Hebrew
- Classification
-
Jewish Art and Symbolism
- Category
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Jewish ceremonial objects
- Object Type
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Mezuzah (lcsh)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Vera Waivisz-Reiss
Silver mezuzah used by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The mezuzah and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. According to the Torah, every doorpost in a Jewish home should display a mezuzah, a parchment scroll with two chapters from Deuteronomy, including the Shema, a central prayer of Judaism. The scroll is put in a case to fasten it to the right doorpost. It serves as a reminder of the covenant of faith and a notice of an observant Jewish home. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
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Record last modified: 2023-09-01 09:00:08
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn510986
Also in Vera Waisvisz-Reiss family collection
The collection consists of baby clothes, bags, a mezuzah, a pin, a purse, a tallit, a tallit katan, tefillin, correspondence, and photographs relating to the experiences of Vera Reiss, a hidden child, and her family before, during, and after the Holocaust in the Netherlands.
Date: 1924-1947
Commemorative Star of David stickpin owned by a Dutch Jewish survivor
Object
Commemorative blue and white Star of David stickpin owned by Vera Reiss, who as an infant was placed in hiding in Baarn, Netherlands, from late 1942 to May 1945. Vera was born in German occupied Amsterdam in March 1942. That summer, the German authorities began mass deportations to camps in the east. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and their infant daughter. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately in late 1942. Vera, now 9 months old, was sent to Baarn to live with Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt, who knew Vera’s paternal grandfather Abraham. She was given a false identity as Vrouwke Peter, their niece who had survived the bombings. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated. Vera was reunited with her mother, who survived in hiding with a false identity as a seamstress and housekeeper. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Child’s striped knit wool cap with a tassel made for a hidden Dutch Jewish child
Object
Red, white, and blue striped knit cap made for Vera Reiss by her foster mother, Huberta Van Pelt, in Baarn, Netherlands, in spring 1945. Huberta made the hat in the colors of the Netherlands flag to celebrate their liberation in May 1945. Vera was born in German occupied Amsterdam in March 1942. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations to camps in the east. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and their infant daughter. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera, now 9 months old, was sent to live with the Van Pelts, who knew Vera’s paternal grandfather Abraham. Her mother assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated. Vera was reunited with her mother. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Floral silk brocade tallit pouch saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Silk brocade tallit katan storage bag used by Abraham Hartog Reiss of Amsterdam. This tallit pouch and other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Colorful plaid dress worn by a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Plaid dress worn by Vera Reiss while living in hiding in the Netherlands from late 1942 to May 1945. Vera was born in German occupied Amsterdam in March 1942. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations to camps in the east. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and their infant daughter. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera, now 9 months old, was sent to Baarn to live with Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt, clients of Vera’s paternal grandfather Abraham. Her mother assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated. Vera was reunited with her mother. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family were murdered in the Holocaust.
Light pink pajama set worn by a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Pink pajama top and pants worn by Vera Reiss while living in hiding in the Netherlands from late 1942 to May 1945. Vera was born in German occupied Amsterdam in March 1942. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations to camps in the east. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and their infant daughter. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera, now 9 months old, was sent to Baarn to live with Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt, clients of Vera’s paternal grandfather Abraham. Her mother assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated. Vera was reunited with her mother. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family were murdered in the Holocaust.
Pair of tefillin with batim covers saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Pair of tefillin with batim covers used by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The tefillin and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. Tefillin are small boxes containing prayers attached to leather straps and worn on the arm and the head by Orthodox Jewish males during morning prayers. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Pair of tefillin saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Pair of tefillin used by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The tefillin and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. Tefillin are small boxes containing prayers attached to leather straps and worn on the arm and the head by Orthodox Jewish males during morning prayers. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Burgundy velvet tefillin pouch saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Dark burgundy tefillin storage pouch used by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The tefillin pouch and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. Tefillin are small boxes containing prayers attached to leather straps and worn on the arm and the head by Orthodox Jewish males during morning prayers. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Dark red velvet square tefillin pouch saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Dark red tefillin storage bag used by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The tefillin pouch and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. Tefillin are small boxes containing prayers attached to leather straps and worn on the arm and the head by Orthodox Jewish males during morning prayers. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Crocheted tallit katan saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Crocheted offwhite wool tallit katan worn by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The tallit and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. A tallit katan is a religious garment worn by Jewish men with their daily dress. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Light pink sleeveless dress worn by a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Embroidered pink holiday dress worn by Vera Reiss while living in hiding in the Netherlands from late 1942 to May 1945. Vera was born in German occupied Amsterdam in March 1942. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations to camps in the east. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and their infant daughter. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera, now 9 months old, was sent to Baarn to live with Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt, clients of Vera’s paternal grandfather Abraham. Her mother assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated. Vera was reunited with her mother. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family were murdered in the Holocaust.
Ivory colored leather purse saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Offwhite leather handbag saved with Vera Reiss, who as an infant was placed in hiding the Netherlands, from late 1942 to May 1945. Vera was born in German occupied Amsterdam in March 1942. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations to camps in the east. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and their infant daughter. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera, now 9 months old, was sent to Baarn to live with Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt, clients of Vera’s paternal grandfather Abraham. Her mother assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated. Vera was reunited with her mother. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family were murdered in the Holocaust.
Purple striped cloth bag saved with hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Light purple striped tallit storage pouch used by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The tallit bag and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Reiss family papers
Document
The papers consist of letters, documents, postcards, and a newspaper clipping relating to the experiences of the Reiss family during the Holocaust in the Netherlands.
Vera Waisvisz-Reiss papers
Document
Consists of correspondence and photographs relating to the Reiss and Duim families' experiences during and after the Holocaust in the Netherlands, especially Vera Reiss's experience as a hidden child with the Von Pelt family in Baarn, Netherlands. The papers include 39 photographs depicting Vera, her relatives, and her foster family, the Von Pelts, before, during, and after the Holocaust as well as eight letters and four postcards sent to Vera's parents.
Baby blanket with an embroidered duck used by a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
Embroidered baby blanket used by Vera Reiss who as an infant was placed in hiding from late 1942 to May 1945. Vera was born in German occupied Amsterdam in March 1942. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations to camps in the east. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and their infant daughter. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately in late 1942. Vera, now 9 months old, was sent to Baarn to live with Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt, who knew Vera’s paternal grandfather Abraham. She was given a false identity as Vrouwke Peter, their niece who had survived the bombings. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated. Vera was reunited with her mother, who survived in hiding with a false identity as a seamstress and housekeeper. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
White and black striped tallit saved with a hidden Dutch Jewish infant
Object
White and black striped tallit, or prayer shawl, worn by Abraham Hartog Reiss in Amsterdam. The tallit and his other religious articles were hidden with his infant granddaughter Vera Reiss. Vera was born in March 1942 in German occupied Amsterdam. That summer, the Germans began mass deportations. In July, Vera’s father Salomon allowed himself to be arrested, to spare his wife Sophie and Vera from deportation. Sophie and Vera went into hiding with Sophie’s cousin Cato and then were hidden separately. Vera was taken in by Hermanus and Huberta Van Pelt in Baarn, clients of Abraham's textile business. Sophie assumed a false identity as a housekeeper. On May 5, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated and Vera was reunited with her mother. Abraham and his wife Vrouwtje were killed in Auschwitz on December 7, 1942. Vera’s father was killed in Auschwitz in February 1943. Most of Vera’s large extended family was murdered in the Holocaust.
Vera Waisvisz-Reiss papers
Document
Consists of certificates issued to Vera Waisvisz-Reiss and correspondence regarding the retrieval of possessions placed with others for safekeeping in the Netherlands.
Reiss-Duim family collection
Document
The collection consists of a photograph taken in Scheveningen, Netherlands, of Roosje and Kitty Duim [donor's maternal uncle's wife and daughter] who perished in Sobibor, two postwar documents stating that Sophie Reiss-Duim [donor's mother] inherited Roosje and Kitty's estate, and one prewar handwritten note stating that the Reiss family valubles were entrusted to non-Jewish family before their deportation.
